Changing Times at SS. John and Martin Catholic Church
SS. John and Martin Catholic Church, George Street, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands, B12 9RG
We are living through changing times, very much reflected in Balsall Heath and its recent history. In living memory many migrants have moved in to the area, and some residents compulsorily rehoused elsewhere. Whole streets have been built and demolished. Meanwhile the area has been in decline with uncleared bomb sites from the Second World War still acting as playgrounds into the 1970s, poor housing still an issue, high unemployment, appalling health statistics, poverty and a major prostitution problem.
This has also been a time of new opportunities, new organisations and new ideas. There was growing dynamism and hope as the groundwork was laid for the thriving multi-cultural community of today’s Balsall Heath, and Ss John and Martin's Church has played a key role working with residents throughout this time.
Mick Turner Archive of photographic images is a vast collection of images, thousands of which were published in the Balsall Heathan through this time. We use these images as a starting point to understand Balsall Heath through the eyes of people who have lived there, interviewing local people who have experienced the changes and other archive images and material from Balsall Heath Local History Society.
SS. John and Martin Catholic Church, George Street, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands, B12 9RG